Strategy

The urgency of climate change, together with Covid-19 and geopolitical shifts, are prompting new questions from our clients. Supply chains are being reconsidered and companies are re-evaluating physical assets to reduce their emissions towards net zero and increase flexibility and resilience. Lifecycle thinking is emerging as organisations seek opportunities to improve their carbon footprint and operational efficiency. Additionally, there is a growing trend to build for use and create circular structures which can be re-purposed for future applications.
At the same time, digital technologies are increasingly being adopted by the market. Also, the competitor landscape is changing. Last but not least, the battle for talent is real, especially in our sectors of engineering, design and (digital) consultancy and also for software and technology.

Stronger25

Taking these trends into account, we developed our new strategy Stronger25.
Logo of our strategy Stronger 25

1. Enhancing Society Together is our daily compass
We take responsibility for having a positive impact on the world and we constantly challenge ourselves and others to develop sustainable solutions to local and global issues.
2. We focus on where to play
Scale and a leading position in specific markets allows us to innovate, attract clients and talents, and be profitable. We aim for growth in nine global leading markets and strengthening our position in the Netherlands.
3. Shift our service mix
We become future-ready consulting engineers who seamlessly integrate engineering and design knowledge, consulting skills, software and technology to deliver more added value for our clients.
4. Achieve our ambitions
Whilst continuing to deliver on our purpose of enhancing society for our children's children, we grow our turnover annually and make a healthy profit to invest in our company.

Enhancing society together

At the forefront of our Stronger25 strategy is our purpose Enhancing Society Together; it drives us and helps to distinguish ourselves in the market. It’s also our daily compass:

We care deeply about our people, our clients, and society at large. We take responsibility for having a positive impact on the world and we constantly challenge ourselves and others to develop sustainable solutions to local and global issues. We feel the urgency and are committed to accelerating the measurable benefits we deliver.

We act with integrity and transparency and hold ourselves to the highest standards of environmental and social governance. We are diverse and inclusive. We will not compromise the safety or well-being of our team or communities – no matter the circumstances.

We actively collaborate with clients, partners and stakeholders in projects and initiatives, together. Our actions, big and small, will drive the positive change the world needs, and will enhance society now and for the future
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As part of our strategy, we aim to deliver measurable impact in our projects and our own operations. We will focus on five Enhancing Society Together themes where we can have the most influence and which will be refined further in 2022. The themes are:

  • Climate change: Significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate climate change. Adapt positively to inevitable climate change.
  • Biodiversity & natural systems: Protect and enhance biodiversity and restore functioning of natural systems.
  • Resources & circularity: Reduce the demand for water and natural resources and actively support the circular economy.
  • Social value & equality: Seek and provide community and wider social benefits. Vocally promote equality and diversity.
  • Safety & well-being: Proactively embed safety in design, operation and culture. Support people's positive physical and mental well-being.

The five themes are relevant to everything we do – for our people and our clients, the way we operate as an organisation, and how we implement our projects. They will also be the fundament to report on our impact and progress and relate to specific UN Sustainable Development Goals.

UNSDG logos

Global leading markets

We aim for international growth and excellence in nine market segments where we are already successful, and market leadership in the Netherlands. Our global leading markets are:

  • Climate resilience
  • Data centres
  • Aviation & Intermodal transport
  • Light industry
  • Maritime
  • Renewable energy & Decarbonisation of industry
  • Sustainable mobility
  • Tunnels & Structures, and
  • Water technology.

To better help clients with their complex challenges, we focus on smart combinations of the service mix, such as digital consultancy with design and engineering services. Also, building on the previous strategy, we are focusing even more on software and technology in the water market.

We aim to become employer of choice; developing, retaining and attracting diverse talents needed to achieve our ambitions. The Stronger25 focus will drive our investment calendar for the coming years and enable growth in revenue and profit.